Photo by Scott Preston
The John Hartford Memorial Festival has released another line up for the 2014 festival, happening May 29-31 at Bill Monroe’s Music Park & Campground in Bean Blossom, IN. Joining the initial line up of Peter Rowan, Pokey LaFarge, and Pert Near Sandstone will be Jamie Hartford & Friends, Danny Barnes, Larry and Jenny Keel, Mike Compton, The HillBenders, Leroy Troy, Bawn in the Mash, Rumpke Mountain Boys and many more. New to the festival will be Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, The Haunted Windchimes, Scenic Roots, Julia Belle Swain Band, Old Salt Union, The Crunchy Western Boys, Sloppy Joe, The Downtown County Band, and Maria Carrelli.
Heading into its fourth year, the John Hartford Memorial Festival is on a mission to preserve and continue the legacy, music, and ideals of John Hartford; one of America’s most beloved songwriters, performers, and musicians. “I’m thrilled to be a part of honoring John’s memory and to bring life back into the songs he crafted,” said Mike Compton.
“I think John’s passion for sound and lyrics has been felt for decades, and has altered the path of string band music,” Compton continued. “He’s sort of the granddaddy of this Jamgrass scene. There’s an awful lot of his repertoire in the bedrock of the scene, from before the Aereo-Plain album to the present. John would be thrilled to know this festival is going on. Shoot, I reckon he does,” he said.
Grammy and IBMA award-winning recording artist Mike Compton has achieved a worldwide reputation as one of the modern masters of bluegrass mandolin. He has recorded with Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, and made music with John Hartford, recording a half-dozen records and touring extensively with him until John’s death in 2001. “Working for John for a half dozen years wasn’t always easy, but it was a growing experience for me that has shaped a lot of what I do now,” Compton concluded.
The John Hartford Memorial Festival is a 3-day, family-friendly music festival that takes place in scenic southern Indiana. The park offers cabin rentals, shaded camping, electric hook ups for RVs, hot showers, a fishing pond, playground, golf cart rentals and more, and is conveniently located near Brown County State Park. Campground and campfire acoustic pickin’ is encouraged and a usual sighting around the festival.
New to next year’s festival will be John Hartford Storytelling. John’s friends will share their memories and stories with the audience. While this informally happens every year, it will be an organized event held under the Boogie Tent at specific times. There will also be a Chompdown pitch-in breakfast with live music on Friday, May 30 from 10 am – Noon for all to participate in, and a Children’s Tent with planned activities. Pickers and players are encouraged to participate in the Old-Time Fiddling Contest and the John Hartford Songwriting Contest with cash prizes and more.
Three-day tickets for the 4th Annual John Hartford Memorial Festival are on sale now at a discounted price of $75. Camping and cabin rentals are additional and paid separately. For a limited time, they are offering an exclusive, groundbreaking ticket special where you pay $25 (non-refundable down payment) upfront, and pay the remaining balance by May 1, 2014. That’s an unprecedented deal that won’t be sticking around long. Festival ticket prices go up to $100 onJanuary 1.
Order your tickets today to get the discounted price! Visit the website for further details and tickets.
2014 John Hartford Memorial Festival Line-up
Peter Rowan
Pokey LaFarge
Pert Near Sandstone
Jamie Hartford and Friends
Larry and Jenny Keel
Danny Barnes
The HillBenders
Rumpke Mountain Boys
Bawn in the Mash
Mike Compton
Leroy Troy
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys
The Haunted Windchimes
Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin
Scenic Roots
The Henhouse Prowlers
The Downtown County Band
Eric Lambert & Friends
Julia Belle Swain Band
Ryan Spearman and Kelly Wells
Flatland Harmony Experiment
Deep Fried Pickle Project
Crunchy Western Boys
Betse Ellis
Colin O’Brien
New Old Calvary
The Whipstitch Sallies
Alex Riffle & the Stiff Riffs
Hickory Robot
Whiskey Bent Valley Boys
Sloppy Joe
Old Salt Union
The Worley Boys
Huckleberry Green
Ray Lawrence Jr
Maria Carrelli
White Lightning Boys
Cluster Pluck
